Comparative analysis of household food security and its determinants among Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) beneficiary, graduated, and non-beneficiary in Northwestern Ethiopia

This study aims to compare household food security and its determinants among PSNP beneficiary, graduated, and non-beneficiary. Data was collected from 396 sample households using a structured questionnaire and key informant interview. Binary Probit regression was used to analyse the determinants of household food security. Household food security was measured using Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and Household Hunger Scale (HHS). The study found significant differences in household food security among beneficiary, graduated and non-beneficiary both in FIES and HHS. The mean raw scores of FIES and HHS for graduated households were lower than both beneficiary and non-beneficiary households. Graduated households had the highest percentage of food secure households (67.4%), followed by non-beneficiary households (61.5%) and beneficiary households (34.3%). The binary probit model showed the number of clinic visits by household head was the only factor that negatively associated with all the three groups. The number of years benefited from PSNP had a negative influence on both beneficiary and graduated households’ food security. Whereas livestock had a positive effect on the food security of both graduated and non-beneficiary households, unlike dependency ratio. Livelihood zone, drought, and credit were only associated with beneficiary household food security, while crop diversification determined only graduated households’ food security. Hence, the findings suggest that policymakers and practitioners should focus on improving access to health care, limit the duration of PSNP participation, promote crop diversification, and provide proper credit use training to enhance household food security.Effective food security interventions play a significant role in addressing chronic food insecurity. In Ethiopia, Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) has been implemented to provide predictable and reliable support to chronically food insecure households. Hence, this study compared the household food security and its determinants among PSNP beneficiary, graduated, and non-beneficiary. The findings showed that the household food security status of PSNP beneficiary, graduated, and non-beneficiary were significantly different. Graduated households had better household food security status than both beneficiary and non-beneficiary households. Moreover, the factors that determine the household food security status also vary among PSNP beneficiary, graduated, and non-beneficiary. The number of years benefited from PSNP had a negative effect on both beneficiary and graduated households’ food security. Comparing graduated households to current beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries provides insights on the long-term effects of PSNP. This study helps policymakers and practitioners to make changes on PSNP and design effective food security intervention considering the differences in food security status and determinants among PSNP beneficiary, graduated and non-beneficiary.